The Washington National Cathedral, located in the capital. Washington National Cathedral, whose official name is the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is a Cathedral of The Episcopal Church.

Hsi Lai Temple (lit. Hsi Lai Temple ( TC: 西來寺 PY: Xīlái Sì) (approximate pronunciation She Lye) is a traditional Chinese Buddhist mountain monastery Coming West Temple), a Buddhist monastery in Los Angeles, California. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices This article concerns the buildings occupied by monastics. For the life inside monasteries and its historical roots see Monasticism. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean.

Religion in the United States has a history of diversity, due in large part to the nation's multicultural demographic makeup. The term multiculturalism generally refers to a state of racial, cultural and ethnic diversity within the Demographics of a specified

Among "developed nations", the US is one of the most religious. The term developed country, or advanced country, is used to categorize countries with developed Economies in which the tertiary and quaternary sectors According to a 2002 study by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, the US was the only developed nation in the survey where a majority of citizens reported that religion played a "very important" role in their lives, an attitude similar to that found in its neighbors in Latin America. The Pew Global Attitudes Project, one of the projects carried out by the Pew Research Center, is a series of worldwide public-opinion surveys and reports aimed at understanding A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos ^[1]

Most U. S. adult citizens adhere to Christianity (76. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings 5%^[2]). A 2001 survey^[2] found 15% of the adult population to have no religious affiliation, still significantly less than in other postindustrial countries such as Britain (44%) and Sweden (69%). A post-industrial society is a society in which an economic transition has occurred from a manufacturing based economy to a service based economy, a diffusion See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. ^[3] According to ARIS and other studies, non-Christian religions (including Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and others) collectively make up about 5. 5% of the adult population.

The U. S. religious marketplace is extremely volatile, with nearly half of American adults leaving the faith tradition of their upbringing to either switch allegiances or abandon religious affiliation altogether, a new survey found February 25, 2008. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[4]

Several of the original 13 colonies were established by English settlers who wished to practice their own religion without discrimination: Pennsylvania was established by Quakers, Maryland by Roman Catholics and the Massachusetts Bay Colony by Puritans. The United States was one of the first countries in the world to enact a separation of church and state and freedom of religion. The Separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads "Congress In the United States Freedom of religion is a constitutionally guaranteed right provided in the religion clauses of the First Amendment. Modeling the provisions concerning religion within the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, the framers of the United States Constitution rejected any religious test for office, and the First Amendment specifically denied the central government any power to enact any law respecting either an establishment of religion, or prohibiting its free exercise. The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was written in 1779 by Thomas Jefferson. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress The framers were mainly influenced by Enlightenment ideals, but they also considered the pragmatic concerns of minority religious groups who did not want to be under the power or influence of a state religion that did not represent them. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century A state religion (also called an official religion, established church or state church) is a religious body or Creed officially ^[5] See:History of religion in the United States

Main religious preferences of Americans

In order of population,^[6] the following religions are followed in the United States:

• Christian
  • Protestant
  • Roman Catholic
  • Mormon
• Unaffiliated with any organized religion
• Jewish
• Buddhist
• Muslim

Christianity

Crystal Cathedral, a megachurch in California. The religious history of the United States begins more than a century before the former British colonies became the United States of America in 1776. The Crystal Cathedral is a Protestant Christian Megachurch in the city of Garden Grove, in Orange County California. A megachurch is a church having around 2000 attendants for a typical weekly service California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean.

Main article: Christianity in the United States

The largest religion in the US is Christianity, practiced by the majority of the population (nearly 76. The largest religion in the United States is Christianity, with nearly 78 Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings 5% in 2001^[2]). Roughly 51. 3% of Americans are Protestants, 23. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. 9% are Catholics, and 1. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described 7% are Mormons (the name commonly used to refer to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), and 1. Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement 6% to various other Christian denominations. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth ^[7] Christianity was introduced during the period of European colonization. The start of the European colonization of the Americas is typically dated to 1492 although there was at least one earlier colonization effort

The French, Spanish and Irish brought Catholicism, while Northern European peoples introduced Protestantism. Legal residents and citizens To be French according to the first article of the Constitution is to be a citizen of France regardless of one's origin race or religion ( The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described Northern Europe is a term for the northern part of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as (Finland Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Among Protestants, adherents to Anglicanism, Baptism, Calvinism, Puritanism, Presbyterianism, Lutheranism, Quakerism, Amish and Moravian Church were the first to settle to the US spreading their faith in the new country. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was an associate of any number of religious groups advocating for more "purity" of Worship and Doctrine, Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The Amish (ˈɑːmɪʃ are members of an Anabaptist Christian denomination best known for Simple living, Plain dress and resisting modern conveniences This page is about the Moravian Church globally For information about the church in a particular geographic area use the links at Organisation below

Since then, American Christians developed in their own path. During the Great Awakenings interdenominational evangelicalism, Pentecostalism and Christian fundamentalism emerged, along with new Protestant denominations such as Adventism, and new branches of Restorationism, particularly Jehovah's Witnesses and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also commonly referred to as Mormonism. The Great Awakenings refer to several periods of rapid and dramatic Religious revival in Anglo-American religious history generally recognized as beginning in the 1730s Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism Fundamentalist Christianity, also known as Christian Fundamentalism or Fundamentalist Evangelicalism, is a movement that arose mainly within British and The term Adventist generally refers to someone who believes in the Second Advent of Jesus (popularly known as the Second coming) in the tradition of the Millerites For other usages see Restoration (general disambiguation Apokatastasis (universal restoration Christian Zionism (restoration of Israel and Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationist, millenialist Christian denomination Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement Today, with 16. 6 million adherents (5. 3% of the total population), Southern Baptist is the largest Protestant denomination. The Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC) is a United States -based mostly conservative Christian denomination ^[8] Of the total population, Evangelicals comprise 26. 3%, and Mainline Protestants 16%. ^[9] The strength of various sects varies greatly in different regions of the country, with rural parts of the South (except Louisiana and the Hispanic community, which both consist mainly of Catholics), having many evangelicals but very few Catholics, while urbanized areas of the north Atlantic states and Great Lakes, as well as many industrial and mining towns, are heavily Catholic, though still quite mixed. The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America Hispanic (hispano hispánico hispânico Hispānus adjective from ''Hispānia'', the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula) is a term that historically The Laurentian Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada–United States border. Mormons are predominant in Utah, Idaho, and neighboring states. The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. The State of Idaho ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America.

Despite its status as the most widespread and influential religion of the US, Christianity is undergoing a continuous relative decline. While the absolute number of Christians rose from 1990 to 2001, the Christian percentage of the population dropped from 88. 3% to 76. 5%. ^[2]

No Religion

Main article: Irreligion in the United States

A 2001 survey directed by Dr. Encompassing Atheism, Agnosticism, Deism, skepticism, Freethought, Secular humanism or general Secularism, various polls Ariela Keysar for the City University of New York indicated that, amongst the more than 100 categories of response, "no religious identification" had the greatest increase in population in both absolute and percentage terms. Figures are up from 14. 3 million in 1990 to 29. 4 million in 2001 moving from 8% of the total in 1990 to over 14% in 2001. ^[2][10] The United States is unique amongst other post-industrial countries in that it has a relatively low percentage of people claiming to have no religious beliefs but the fluidity of religion in the country is high, with a study by the Pew forum showing around half the population had abandoned the faith of their childhood. ^[11] The Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the recent spate of religiously inspired bombings in Europe, and the emergence of organized campaigns by Christian fundamentalist groups against evolution and abortion have been cited as reasons for a continued increase in the number of individuals questioning mainstream religion and abandoning it altogether. ^[12]

Judaism

Beth-El Temple in Birmingham, Alabama. For other temples called Beth-El see Temple Beth-El. Temple Beth-El is a Synagogue located in Birmingham Alabama. Birmingham (ˈbɝmɪŋhæm is the largest City in the US state of Alabama and is the County seat of Jefferson County. Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America.

Main article: Judaism in the United States

After Christianity and no-religion, Judaism is the third-largest religious preference in the US. American Jews, or Jewish Americans Jews have been present in the US since the 17th century, though large scale immigration did not take place until the 19th century, largely as a result of persecutions in parts of Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. The CIA Fact Book estimates 1%^[13] of Americans belong to this group. Approximately 25% of this population lives in New York City. The City of New York ^[14]

A significant number of people identify themselves as American Jews on ethnic and cultural grounds, rather than religious ones. American Jews, or Jewish Americans The 2001 ARIS study projected from its sample that there are about 5. 3 million adults in the American Jewish population: 2. 83 million adults (1. 4% of the U. S. adult population) are estimated to be adherents of Judaism; 1. 08 million are estimated to be adherents of no religion; and 1. 36 million are estimated to be adherents of a religion other than Judaism. ^[15][2]

According to the 2001 National Jewish Population Survey,^[16] 4. The National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS most recently performed in 2000-01 is a representative survey of the Jewish population in the United States sponsored 3 million American Jews have some sort of strong connection to the Jewish community, whether religious or cultural. American Jews, or Jewish Americans Jewishness is generally considered an ethnic identity as well as a religious one. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Among the 4. 3 million American Jews described as "strongly connected" to Judaism, over 80% have some sort of active engagement with Judaism, ranging from attendance at daily prayer services on one end of the spectrum to as little as attending Passover Seders or lighting Hanukkah candles on the other. The Passover Seder Meal ( Hebrew: סֵדֶר seðɛɾ "order" "arrangement" is a Jewish ritual feast held on the first (and for some the Hanukkah (חנוכה alt Chanukah) also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Of these 4. 3 million strongly connected Jews, 46% belong to a synagogue. A synagogue (from Greek: grc συναγωγή transliterated synagogē, "assembly" he בית כנסת beit knesset, "house of Among those who belong to a synagogue, 38% are members of Reform synagogues, 33% Conservative, 22% Orthodox, 2% Reconstructionist, and 5% other types. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently subjected to vandalism and the insertion of personal opinions Conservative Judaism (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel and Europe) is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern American-based Jewish movement based on the ideas of the late Mordecai Kaplan (1881 – 1983 The survey also discovered that Jews in the Northeast and Midwest are generally more observant than Jews in the South or West. The Northeast is a region of the United States. As defined by the U South is one of Cardinal directions and is opposite to the North. This article refers to the cardinal direction for other uses see West (disambiguation. Reflecting a trend also observed among other religious groups, Jews in the Northwestern United States are typically the least observant.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend of secular American Jews, called baalei teshuva ("returners", see also Repentance in Judaism), returning to a more religious, in most cases, Orthodox, style of observance. Note This article is about the movement See Orthodox outreach, Reform outreach, and Conservative outreach for more information about the rabbis Repentance in Judaism known as teshuva ( Hebrew תשובה literally "return" is the way of atoning for Sin in Judaism. It is uncertain how widespread or demographically important this movement is at present.

Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhist temple in Washington, D.C.

Main article: Buddhism in the United States

Buddhism entered the US during the 19th century with the arrive of the first immigrants from Eastern Asia. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The first Buddhist temple was established in San Francisco in 1853 by Chinese Americans. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Year 1853 ( MDCCCLIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Chinese Americans ( Chinese: 华裔美国人 are Americans of Chinese descent

During the late 19th century Buddhist missionaries from Japan came to the US. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Simultaneously to these processes, US intellectuals started to take interest in Buddhism.

The first prominent US citizen to publicly convert to Buddhism was Henry Steel Olcott. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907 founder and first president of the Theosophical Society, was the first well-known person of European ancestry to make a formal conversion An event that contributed to strengthen Buddhism in the US was the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1893, which was attended by many Buddhist delegates sent from China, Japan, Thailand and Sri Lanka. There have been several meetings referred to as a Parliament of the World’s Religions, most notably the World's Parliament of Religions of 1893 the first attempt to create China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island

The early 20th century was characterized by a continuation of the tendencies with roots in the 19th century. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on The second half, by contrast, saw the emergence of new approaches, and the move of Buddhism into the mainstream making itself a mass and social religious phenomenon.

Many foreign associations and teachers - such as Soka Gakkai and Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama (for Tibetan Buddhism) - started to organize missionary activities, while US converts established the first Western-based Buddhist institutions, temples and worship groups. Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub ( 6 July 1935 in Qinghai) He is the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including

Estimates of the number of Buddhists in the United States vary between 0. 5% and 0. 9% ^[2][17][18].

Islam

Islamic school in Seattle. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation.

Main article: Islam in the United States

The history of Islam in the US starts in the early 16th century with the confirmed arrival of Muslim explorer and sailor Estevanico of Azamor^[19] and early Muslim visitors^[20]. The history of Islam in the United States starts in the early 16th century, with Estevánico of Azamor being the first Muslim to enter the historical record For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Estevanico (c 1500 – 1539 (also known as "Mustafa Zemmouri" "Black Stephen" "Esteban" "Esteban the Moor" "Estevan" "Estebanico" Once very small, the Muslim population has increased greatly in the last one hundred years. There is much controversy over recent estimates of the Muslim population in the US. Much of the growth has been driven by immigration and conversion.

Up to one-third of American Muslims are African Americans who have converted to Islam during the last seventy years, most of whom first joined the Nation of Islam, though many later transitioned into mainstream Sunnism. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa The Nation of Islam ( NOI) (أمة الإسلام Ummah al-Islāmu) is a group founded in Detroit, Michigan, Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic ^[21]

Research indicates that Muslims in the US are generally more assimilated and prosperous than Muslims in Europe. ^[22][23] Surveys also suggest, however, that they are less assimilated than other American subcultural and religious communities. ^[24] There are many Islamic political and charity organizations supporting this community.

Muslim immigration is rising as in 2005 alone more people from Islamic countries became legal permanent US residents than in any year in the previous two decades. American immigration ( emigration to the United States of America) refers to the movement of non-residents to the United States. Listing of Muslims by country Important note Population counts by religious affiliation like most demographic characteristics of a Population ^[25][26] Number of Muslims in the US is controversial. The highest, generally-accepted estimate of Muslims (including children) in the United States is 2. 35 million (0. 8% of the total population ^[27][28]). For some time, media accepted estimates of 6 million to 10 million Muslims, but these estimates have no empirical basis. ^[29]

Hinduism

Detail of Malibu Hindu Temple in California. Malibu Hindu Temple, a Temple of the Hindu god Venkateswara, built in 1981 is located in the city of Calabasas near Malibu, California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean.

Main article: Hinduism in the United States

The first time Hinduism entered the US is not clearly identifiable. The advent of Hinduism in the United States has long been a subject for debate Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. However, large groups of Hindus immigrated from India and other Asian countries since the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ( Hart-Celler Act, INS Act of 1965,) abolished the national-origin Quotas that had been in place in the During the 1960s and 1970s Hinduism exercised fascination contributing to the development of New Age thought. New Age ( New Age Movement and New Age Spirituality) is a Social Collective Phenomenon and a Spiritual Nature During the same decades the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (a Vaishnavite Hindu reform organization) was founded in the US. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) also known as 'the Hare Krishna ' movement is one of several Vaishnava groups Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Hinduism is going through a phase of regeneration and reform through the vehicle of several contemporary movements collectively termed as Hindu reform movements.

At present, estimates for Hindus in the US suggest they number nearly 800 thousand people or about 0. 4% of the total population^[2][30] .

Hindu religion is growing in the US, not only thanks to immigration but also due many Western converts. Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religious identity or a change from one religious identity to another Hinduism is expanding in popularity and influence on the public life. ^[31] In 2004 the Hindu American Foundation - a national institution spreading the religion and protecting rights the Hindu community of US - was founded. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF founded May 8, 2004) is an American Hindu human rights group advocating on behalf of the Hindu community

Hindu temples are flourishing in the US and recently, in July 2007, a Hindu service has been held to open a senate session. A Hindu temple or Mandir ( Sanskrit: मंदिर is a house of worship for Hindus followers of Hinduism. ^[32] The event has been criticized and disrupted^[33] by many evangelical and fundamentalist Christians. Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel Fundamentalist Christianity, also known as Christian Fundamentalism or Fundamentalist Evangelicalism, is a movement that arose mainly within British and

Unitarian Universalism

Main article: Unitarian Universalism

Unitarian Universalism (UUism) came into existence as a unique religion when the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) was founded in 1961 as a consolidation of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church in America. Unitarian Universalism ( UUism) is a theologically liberal Religion characterized by its support for a "free and responsible search for truth Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA in full the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations in North America, is a liberal religious association The American Unitarian Association (AUA was a Religious denomination in the United States and Canada, formed by associated Unitarian congregations The Universalist Church of America was a Christian Universalist religious denomination in the United States (plus affiliated Churches in other parts of the world Unitarian Universalism is a theologically liberal religious movement characterized by its support of a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Liberal religion is a Religious tradition which embraces the Theological diversity of a congregation rather than respecting any single Creed, authority A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos " Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal religion. Members do not share a creed; rather they are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth. Unitarian Universalists draw on many different sources and have a wide range of beliefs and practices.

Being historically derived from Unitarianism and Universalism, Unitarian Universalism traces its roots to Christian Protestantism, however, the theological significance of both Unitarianism and Universalism had significantly expanded beyond the traditional understanding prior to their decision to combine their efforts at the continental level as Unitarian Universalists. Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God Universalism can be classified as a Religion, Theology and Philosophy that generally holds all persons and creatures are related to God or the Divine and A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Many UUs appreciate and value aspects of Islamic, Christian and Jewish spirituality, but the extent to which the elements of any particular faith tradition are incorporated into one's personal spiritual practices is a matter of personal choice in keeping with Unitarian Universalism's creedless, non-dogmatic approach to spirituality and faith development. Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality A creed is a statement of Belief — usually Religious belief — or Faith often recited as part of a religious service Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas, Greek, plural) is the established Belief or

As a result of these historical roots, Unitarian Universalist congregations and fellowships tend to retain some Christian traditions such as Sunday worship that includes a sermon and singing of hymns, despite the fact that they do not necessarily identify themselves as Christians.

According to the 2007 survey published by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life . The Pew Research Center is a Think tank based in Washington D 3% of U. S. adults or approximately 340,000 individuals identified themselves as Unitarian Universalist. ^[34]

Others

Several other religions are represented in the United States, including traditional Native American spirituality, New Age spirituality, Sikhism, Jainism, Shintoism, Taoism, Caodaism, the Bahá'í Faith, Heathenism, Neopaganism. Like other religions Native American belief systems include many sacred narratives New Age ( New Age Movement and New Age Spirituality) is a Social Collective Phenomenon and a Spiritual Nature First Immigrants Sikhs have been a part of the American populace for more than 130 years The Jains started arriving in significant numbers to the United States in the early 1970s is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Cao Đài ( Vietnamese:) is a relatively new syncretist, Monotheistic Religion, officially established in Tây Ninh, The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind is Ásatrú ( Icelandic for " Æsir faith" auːsatruː in Old Norse; Norwegian Åsatru, Swedish Neopaganism in the United States is represented by widely different movements and organisations.

Native American religion

No particular religion or religious tradition is hegemonic among Native Americans in the United States. Most self-identifying and federally recognized Native Americans claim adherence to some form of Christianity, some of these being cultural and religious syntheses unique to the particular tribe. Traditional Native American spiritual rites and ceremonies are maintained by many Americans of both Native and non-Native identity. These spiritualities may accompany adherence to another faith, or can represent a person's primary religious identity. Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality While much Native American spiritualism exists in a tribal-cultural continuum, and as such cannot be easily separated from tribal identity itself, certain other more clearly-defined movements have arisen within "Trad" Native American practitioners, these being identifiable as "religions" in the clinical sense. The Midewiwin Lodge is a traditional medicine society inspired by the oral traditions and prophesies of the Ojibwa (Chippewa) and related tribes. The Midewiwin (also spelled Midewin and Medewiwin) or the Grand Medicine Society is a secretive religion of the aboriginal groups of the Maritimes The Ojibwa or Chippewa (also Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippeway) is the largest group of Native Americans - First Nations Traditional practices include the burning of sacred herbs (tobacco, sweetgrass, sage, etc. Sweet grass ( Anthoxanthum nitens) also known as Sweetgrass Holy grass buffalo grass Vanilla grass Manna grass Seneca grass Mary's grass ), the sweatlodge, fasting (paramount in "vision quests"), singing and drumming, and the smoking of natural tobacco in a pipe. The sweat lodge (also called sweat house, medicine lodge, or medicine house) is a ceremonial Sauna and an important ritual used by American Indian music is the Musics that are shared by or that distinguish American Indian Tribes and First Nations. A peace pipe, also called a calumet or medicine pipe, is a ceremonial Smoking pipe used by many Native American tribes traditionally as a token A practitioner of Native American spiritualities and religions may incorporate all, some or none of these into their personal or tribal rituals.

Another significant religious body among Native peoples is known as the Native American Church. Native American Church, a religious denomination which practices Peyotism or the Peyote religion originated in the U It is a syncretistic church incorporating elements of native spiritual practice from a number of different tribes as well as symbolic elements from Christianity. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Its main rite is the peyote ceremony. Lophophora williamsii (loʊˈfɒfərə wɪlˈjæmsiaɪ lō-fof′ŏ-ră will-yăm′sē-ī better known by its common name Peyote, (from the Prior to 1890, traditional religious beliefs included Wakan Tanka. In the Sioux tradition Wakan Tanka (correct Siouan spelling Wakaŋ Tȟaŋka also known as Wakan or Wakanda by the Omaha Tribe) is In the American Southwest, especially New Mexico, a syncretism between the Catholicism brought by Spanish missionaries and the native religion is common; the religious drums, chants, and dances of the Pueblo people are regularly part of Masses at Santa Fe's Saint Francis Cathedral. New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. The Pueblo people are a Native American people in the Southwestern United States. The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Santa Fe ( Navajo: Yootó is the Capital of the state of New Mexico. ^[35] Native American-Catholic syncretism is also found elsewhere in the United States. (e. g. , the National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in Fonda, New York and the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York). Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha or Blessed Catherine Tekakwitha (ɡɔdeli deɡɔkwidɔ in Mohawk (1656 – April 17, 1680) the daughter of a Mohawk Fonda is a Village in Montgomery County, New York, United States. Auriesville is a hamlet on the south bank of the Mohawk River, in the northeast part of the Town of Glen New York, about forty miles west of Albany

Native Americans are the only known ethnic group in the United States requiring a federal permit to practice their religion. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos The eagle feather law, (Title 50 Part 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations), stipulates that only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers for religious or spiritual use. In the United States, there are a number of federal wildlife laws pertaining to Eagles and their feathers (e Eagles are large birds of prey which are members of the Bird order Falconiformes and family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events Native Americans and non-Native Americans frequently contest the value and validity of the eagle feather law, charging that the law is laden with discriminatory racial preferences and infringes on tribal sovereignty. In the United States, there are a number of federal wildlife laws pertaining to Eagles and their feathers (e The law does not allow Native Americans to give eagle feathers to non-Native Americans, a common modern and traditional practice. Eagles are large birds of prey which are members of the Bird order Falconiformes and family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera Many non-Native Americans have been adopted into Native American families, made tribal members and given eagle feathers.

History

Main article: History of religion in the United States

The religious history of the US began before the former British colonies became the United States of America in 1776. The religious history of the United States begins more than a century before the former British colonies became the United States of America in 1776. The Thirteen Colonies were part of what became known as British America, a name that was used by Great Britain until the Treaty of Paris (1783 recognized the The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Some of the original European settlers were men and women of deep religious convictions, who came to America to practice their own religion without being obliged to conform to state religions. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos That the religious intensity of the original settlers would diminish to some extent over time was perhaps to be expected, but new waves of 18th century immigrants brought their own religious fervor across the Atlantic, and the nation's first major religious revival in the middle of the eighteenth century strengthened the influence of religion among Americans. The First Great Awakening (referred to by some historians as the Great Awakening) was a period of heightened religious activity primarily in Great Britain and its

The result was that many of the people who rose in rebellion against Great Britain in 1776 cited reasons of a religious nature for their actions, and, according to Alexis de Tocqueville, Americans shared a conviction that religion was indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands ^[36]

The efforts of the founding fathers to find a proper role for their support of religion - and the degree to which religion can be supported by public officials without being inconsistent with the revolutionary imperative of freedom of religion for all citizens - is a question that is still debated in the country today. The Founding Fathers of the United States are the Political leaders who signed the Declaration of Independence or otherwise participated in the Freedom of religion is the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest religion or belief in teaching practice worship and observance

Denominations and sects founded in the U. S.

• Episcopal Church in the United States - founded as an offshoot of the Church of England; now the United States branch of the Anglican Communion
• United Church of Christ - descended from Congregationalist churches of New England; formed in 1957 as a united and uniting church from a union of the Congregational Christian Church and Evangelical and Reformed Church
• Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ - a restoration movement with no governing body. The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The United Church of Christ ( UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, United and uniting churches are churches formed from the merger or other form of union of two or more different Protestant denominations. The United Church of Christ ( UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, The Evangelical and Reformed Church was an American Protestant Christian denomination formed in 1934 by the merger of the Reformed Church in the United States The Churches of Christ discussed The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America The Restoration Movement solidified as a historical phenomenon in 1832 when restorationists from two major movements championed by Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell merged (referred to as the "Stone-Campbell Movement"). This article is about the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement and churches that have a historical and/or theological connection to it (e For other usages see Restoration (general disambiguation Apokatastasis (universal restoration Christian Zionism (restoration of Israel and Barton Warren Stone was born on December 24 1772 to John and Mary Stone in Port Tobacco, Maryland. Alexander Campbell (1788 &ndash 1866 was an early leader in the Second Great Awakening of the religious movement that has been referred to as the Restoration, or This article is about the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement and churches that have a historical and/or theological connection to it (e
• Pentecostalism - movement which emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit, finds its historic roots in the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California, from 1904 to 1906, sparked by Charles Parham
• Adventism - began as an inter-denominational movement. Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance The Azusa Street Revival was a historic Pentecostal Revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California and was led by William J Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The term Adventist generally refers to someone who believes in the Second Advent of Jesus (popularly known as the Second coming) in the tradition of the Millerites Its most vocal leader was William Miller, who in the 1830s in New York became convinced of an imminent Second Coming of Jesus. William Miller (1782–1849 was an American Baptist Preacher, whose followers have been termed Millerites. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous In Christianity, the Second Coming is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven to earth an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) - founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830 in New York. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known TalkMormon#Latter Day Saint vs Latter-day Saint --> Mormon New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Now headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States.
• Jehovah's Witnesses - originated with the religious movement known as Bible Students, which was founded in Pennsylvania in the late 1870s by Charles Taze Russell. Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationist, millenialist Christian denomination The Bible Student movement is the name adopted by a Protestant religious movement with premillennialist expectations that emerged from the teachings and Charles Taze Russell ( February 16, 1852 &ndash October 31, 1916) also known as Pastor Russell, was a Protestant
• Scientology - founded by L. Ron Hubbard
• Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Baptist group in the world and the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices initially created by American Science fiction author L Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13 1911 &ndash January 24 1986 was a fiction writer who devised a self-help technique called Dianetics and philosophy known as Scientology The Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC) is a United States -based mostly conservative Christian denomination In 1995, it renounced its 1845 origins in the defense of slavery and racial superiority.
• Unitarian Universalism - a theologically liberal religious movement founded in 1961 from the union of the well established Unitarian and Universalist churches. Unitarian Universalism ( UUism) is a theologically liberal Religion characterized by its support for a "free and responsible search for truth Universalism can be classified as a Religion, Theology and Philosophy that generally holds all persons and creatures are related to God or the Divine and
• Christian Science - founded by Mary Baker Eddy

Belief in God

The phrase "In God We Trust" first appeared on a U. Christian Science is believed by its supporters to be a system of spiritually scientific truths which are summed up in the two commandments having one God one Mind one Life Truth Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science In God We Trust is the official National motto of the United States and the U S. coin on the 2-cent piece of 1864, and has been on all coins and paper bills since 1957. It was declared the national motto by Congress in 1956. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The one dollar Federal Reserve Note of October 1957 was the first U. S. paper money with the motto. ^[37] The U. S. Pledge of Allegiance was modified in 1954 to add the phrase "under God". History The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855-1931 a Baptist minister a Christian Socialist, and the cousin of Socialist Utopian Various polls have been conducted to determine Americans' actual beliefs regarding God:

• A 2006 online Harris Poll of 2,010 U. S. adults (18 and older) found that^[38] 73% of those surveyed believed in God, with 58% being "absolutely certain" and 15% "somewhat certain". Eleven percent did not believe in God, and 16% were uncertain. About 29% believe that God "controls what happens on Earth", while a plurality (44%) believes that God "observes but does not control what happens on Earth". The poll also showed that an "absolute certain" belief in God is correlated to age: only 43%-45% of those aged 18-29 were "absolutely certain" that God exists, while 54% of those aged 30-39 were "absolutely certain" that God exists, and 63%-65% of those aged 40 and older were "absolutely certain" that God exists.

• A 2006 CBS News Poll of 899 U. S. adults found that 82% of those surveyed believed in God, while 9% believed in "some other universal spirit or higher power," 8% believed in neither, and 1% were unsure.

• A 2004 Newsweek Poll of 1,009 U. S. adults, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates, found that 82% of those surveyed believed that Jesus was God or the Son of God. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE)

• A 2000 Newsweek Poll of 752 U. S. adults, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates, found that 94% of those surveyed believed in God, while 4% did not and 2% were unsure.

• A 1998 Harris Poll of 1,011 U. S. adults found that 94% of those surveyed believed in God.

Church attendance

Gallup International indicates that 41%^[39] of American citizens report they regularly attend religious services, compared to 15% of French citizens, 10% of UK citizens,^[40] and 25% of Israeli citizens. The Gallup Poll is the division of Gallup that regularly conducts public Opinion polls in the United States and more than 140 countries around the world A place of worship or house of worship is a building or other location where a group of people (a congregation) comes to perform acts of religious praise honour The Culture of France and of the French people has been shaped by its geography, by profound historical events, and by foreign and This article is about the development of religion in the United Kingdom (UK since its formation in 1707 Religion in Israel is a central feature of the country and plays a major role in shaping Israeli culture and lifestyle

However, these numbers are open to dispute. ReligiousTolerance. org states:

"Church attendance data in the U. S. has been checked against actual values using two different techniques. The true figures show that only about 21% of Americans and 10% of Canadians actually go to church one or more times a week. Many Americans and Canadians tell pollsters that they have gone to church even though they have not. Whether this happens in other countries, with different cultures, is difficult to predict. "^[39]

In, a 2006 online Harris Poll of 2,010 U. S. adults (18 and older) found that only 26% of those surveyed attended religious services "every week or more often," 9% went "once or twice a month" 21% went "a few times a year," 3% went "once a year," 22% went "less than once a year," and 18% never attend religious services. An identical survey by Harris in 2003 found that only 26% of those surveyed attended religious services "every week or more often," 11% went "once or twice a month" 19% went "a few times a year," 4% went "once a year," 16% went "less than once a year," and 25% never attend religious services.

Religion and politics

The U. S. guarantees freedom of religion and many churches in the U. Freedom of religion is the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest religion or belief in teaching practice worship and observance S. use this freedom by taking strong stances on political subjects.

Politicians frequently discuss their religion when campaigning, and many churches and religious figures are highly politically active. A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person However, to keep their status as tax-exempt organizations they must not officially endorse a candidate. There are Christians in both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, but evangelical Christians tend to support the Republican Party whereas more secular voters support the Democratic Party. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel

Every President, with the exception of John F. Kennedy (a Roman Catholic), was raised in a family with affiliations with Protestant Christianity. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. However, many presidents have themselves had only a nominal affiliation with Protestant churches. Several early holders of the office were Deists, with at least four presidents being Unitarians, and several, such as Thomas Jefferson, having no formal affiliation. Deism is the belief that a supreme God exists and created the physical universe and that religious truths can be arrived at by the application of reason alone without dependence on revelation Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence

Only three presidential candidates for major parties have been Catholics^[41], all for the Democratic party:

• Alfred E. Smith -- Smith, the Governor of New York, secured the Democratic presidential nomination in 1928. Alfred Emanuel Smith Jr, known in private and public life as Al Smith, ( December 30, 1873 - October 4, 1944) was elected Governor A contributing factor to Smith's defeat in the presidential election of 1928 was his Roman Catholic faith. The United States presidential election of 1928 pitted Republican Herbert Hoover against Democrat Al Smith.
• John F. Kennedy -- Kennedy, a U. S. Senator from Massachusetts, secured the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960. In the 1960 election, John F. The United States presidential election of 1960 marked the end of Dwight D Kennedy faced accusations that as a Roman Catholic President he would do as the pope would tell him to do, a charge that Kennedy managed to subdue considerably.
• John Kerry -- Kerry, a U. } John Forbes Kerry (born December 11 1943 is an American Politician who is currently serving his fourth term as the junior United States Senator S. Senator from Massachusetts, secured the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. In the 2004 election, there was discussion about whether Kerry's beliefs as a Catholic would be relevant to the national debate on abortion, but there was no implication that his being a Roman Catholic per se made him an undesirable candidate among pro-choice voters. The United States presidential election of 2004 was held on Tuesday November 2, 2004, to elect the President of the United States. An Kerry himself was pro-choice, while the Catholic church staunchly opposes abortion.

There has never been a Jewish President or Vice-President. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The only Jewish major party candidate for either of those offices was Joe Lieberman in the Gore-Lieberman campaign of 2000, during which Lieberman's Orthodox Judaic faith was not an issue. Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman (born February 24 1942 is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut. Albert Arnold Gore Jr (born March 31 1948 is an American environmental Activist, author Businessperson, former Politician, and former The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Democratic candidate Al Gore, then Vice President, and Republican Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized Some sources indicate that Jews constitute only 1. 4% of the U. S. population, although others indicate that Jews comprise as much as 2. 1% of the population (a significant decline from over 3% in the 1950s, chiefly due to the relatively low birthrate among Jewish Americans and high rates of out-marriage to non-Jews).

In the 2004 Presidential election, George W. Bush, a Methodist, earned a slim victory over John Kerry, with voters who cited "moral values" (a commonly used term among religiously-inclined voters) playing a crucial part in the election ^[42]. The United States presidential election of 2004 was held on Tuesday November 2, 2004, to elect the President of the United States. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations

In 2007, the first Hindu prayer was recited in the United States Senate by Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed. Rajan Zed is a Hindu and Indo-American leader who was invited to read prayers to the Nevada Assembly and the Nevada Senate, as well as the United A Gallup Poll released in 2007^[43] indicates that 53% of Americans would refuse to vote for an atheist as president, up from 48% in 1987 and 1999.

See also: list of U.S. Presidential religious affiliations

See also: Religious Affiliation in the United States Senate

Religious bodies

The table below is based mainly on selected data as reported to the United States Census Bureau. The following list shows the count of the reported religious affiliation of the members of the United States Senate as projected for the 110th US Congress: The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census It only includes the voluntary self-reported membership of religious bodies with 60,000 or more. The definition of a member is determined by each religious body. A growing sector of the population, currently 14%, does not identify itself as a member of any religion. (^[44])

ARIS findings

Plurality of religious preference by state, 2001. The Reformed Church in America (RCA is a mainline Reformed Protestant denomination that was formerly a part of the Dutch Reformed The Salvation Army is a Christian charity and church that is internally organised like a military service. The Serbian Orthodox Church ( Serbian: Српска Православна Црква / Srpska Pravoslavna Crkva; СПЦ / SPC) or the The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated " Adventist " Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century The Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC) is a United States -based mostly conservative Christian denomination Unitarian Universalism ( UUism) is a theologically liberal Religion characterized by its support for a "free and responsible search for truth The United Church of Christ ( UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, The United Methodist Church is the largest Methodist denomination and the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. The Wesleyan Church is an Evangelical Christian Religious denomination in the United States Canada and Australia associated with the Holiness The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS is a North American religious denomination with practice rooted in the Lutheran tradition of Christianity Data is unavailable for Alaska and Hawaii. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the

Percentage of religion against average, 2001.

Percentage of state populations that identify with a religion rather than "no religion", 2001.

The United States government does not collect religious data in its census. The survey below, the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) 2001, was a random digit-dialed telephone survey of 50,281 American residential households in the continental United States. Statistical surveys are used to collect quantitative information about items in a population The term continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada plus the District The 1990 sample size was 113,723.

Adult respondents were asked the open-ended question, "What is your religion, if any?". Interviewers did not prompt or offer a suggested list of potential answers. The religion of the spouse or partner was also asked. If the initial answer was "Protestant" or "Christian" further questions were asked to probe which particular denomination. About one third of the sample was asked more detailed demographic questions.

Self-Described Religious Identification of U. S. Adult Population: 1990 and 2001 ^[2]
All figures after adjusting for refusals to reply, which jumped from 2. 3% in 1990 to 5. 4% in 2001

Key findings:^[3] (Not adjusted for increase in refusals to reply)

• the proportion of the population that can be classified as Christian has declined from 86% in 1990 to 77% in 2001;
• although the number of adults who classify themselves in non-Christian religious groups has increased from about 5. 8 million to about 7. 7 million, the proportion of non-Christians has increased only by a very small amount - from 3. 3% to about 3. 7%;
• the greatest increase in absolute as well as in percentage terms has been among those adults who do not subscribe to any religious identification; their number has more than doubled from 14. 3 million in 1990 to 29. 4 million in 2001; their proportion has grown from just 8% of the total in 1990 to over 14% in 2001;
• there has also been a substantial increase in the number of adults who refused to reply to the question about their religious preference, from about four million or 2% in 1990 to more than eleven million or over 5% in 2001.

Other key findings:

• Nearly 20% of adults who describe themselves as atheist or agnostic also report that either they themselves or someone else in their household is a member of a church, temple, synagogue, mosque or some other religious institution.
• On the other hand, nearly 40% of respondents who identified with a religion indicated that neither they themselves nor anyone else in their household belongs to a church or some other similar institution.
• Despite the growing diversity nationally, some religious groups clearly occupy a dominant demographic position in particular states. For instance, Catholics are the majority of the population in Massachusetts and Rhode Island as are Mormons in Utah and Baptists in Mississippi. Catholics comprise over 40% of Vermont, New Mexico, New York and New Jersey, while Baptists are over 40% in a number of southern states such as South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama and Georgia.
• Historical traces of a Bible Belt in the South and a less religious West are still evident. The Bible Belt is an informal term for an area of the United States of America in which socially conservative Evangelical Protestantism is a Those with "no religion" constitute the largest "denomination" in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming. In contrast, the percentage of adults who adhere to "no religion" is below 10% in North and South Dakota, Nebraska, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.
• Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and those with no religion continue to have a greater preference for the Democratic party over the Republican - much as they did in 1990. Evangelical or Born Again Christians and Mormons are the most apt to identify as Republicans. Buddhists and those with no religion are most likely to be political independents. In keeping with their theology, Jehovah's Witnesses disavow political involvement. Catholics, who at one point dominated the major eastern cities following immigration, formerly favored the Democratic Party, but after a century as the largest single religious group are now split roughly 50/50 between Democrats and Republicans.
• In both the 1990 and 2001 studies, the Buddhist and Muslim population appears to have the highest proportion of young adults under age thirty, and the lowest percentage of females. A number of the major Christian groups have aged since 1990, most notably the Catholics, Methodists, and Lutherans. Congregationalist/United Church of Christ and Presbyterian adherents show an older age str* ARIS2001 found that of all households that contained either a married or domestic partner couple, 22% reported a mixture of religious identification amongst the couple. At the low end there are the Mormon adults who are found in mixed religion families at 12% and such other groups as Baptists, those adhering to the Churches of Christ, Assemblies of God, the Evangelicals and those adhering to the Church of God (all at about 18%). At the high end we find the Episcopalians at 42% group shows the lowest incidence of marriage (just 19%) of all twenty-two groups. In sharp contrast, those identifying with the Assemblies of God or Evangelical/Born Again Christians show the highest proportions married, 73% and 74% respectively. The percent currently divorced or separated varies considerably less, from a low of six percent (Jehovah's Witnesses) to a high of fourteen percent (Pentecostals).
• The top three "gainers" in America's vast religious market place appear to be Evangelical Christians, those describing themselves as Non-Denominational Christians and those who profess no religion. Looking at patterns of religious change from this perspective, the evidence points as much to the rejection of faith as to the seeking of faith among American adults. Indeed, among those who previously had no religion, just 5% report current identification with one or another of the major religions.
• Women are more likely than men to describe their outlook as "religious. " Older Americans are more likely than younger to describe their outlook as "religious. " Black Americans are least likely to describe themselves as secular, Asian Americans are most likely to do so.
• 68% of those identifying themselves as Lutheran report church membership, while only 45% of those who describe themselves as Protestant (without a specific denominational identification) report church membership. Nearly 68% of those identifying with the Assemblies of God report church membership. Church membership is reported by 59% of Catholic adults. About 53% of adults who identify their religion as Jewish or Judaism report temple or synagogue membership. Among those calling themselves Muslim or Islamic, 62% report membership in a mosque.

See also

• United States religious history
• Freedom of Religion in the United States
• Separation of church and state in the United States
• List of U.S. Presidential religious affiliations
• Religion in United States prisons

References

External links

• CNN Article (2/25/08) on 2008 Pew Results [4]
• Religious Affliation Underestimated in U.S., Study Shows
• Map Gallery of Religion in the United States
• http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#religions
• U. S. Census links and Statistical Abstract - ARIS Data - PDF & XLS (Excel)
• USA - Population statistics by religion
• American Religious Data Archive, collection of U.S. religious demographics
• Is America Too Damn Religious? -- from NPR.